Tire-protector.



W. B THOMPSON.

TIRE PROTECTOR.

APPLICATXON FILED MAEL19,1913v Patente& June 29, 1915.

f z m.

ATTORNEY s snares iciii i lllllfilll ll lt lh lllCEo TIEE-PBOTEGTQR.

1,1lddA4t5. Specification of Application filed March is,

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM B. TrroiirsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Gatos, in the county of Santa Clara and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tiro- Protectors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of tireprotectors in which an impenetrable flexible armor composed of articulated sections is employed.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, economical, durable and ell'cctive protector of this type, and to this end my invention consists in the novel tire-protector which I. shall now fully describe, by refer.- ence to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a broken part side elevation and part circumferential section of my protector showing it applied to tire. Fig. 2

,is a cross section through the tire, showing the protectorapplied thereto. Fig. 3 is a plan of a broken section or portion of the protector.

1 is the rim of a Wheel to which is fitte the casing or tire 2 in suitable manner, as, for example, by theiriin' plate 3, the side flanges 4t and the clamp 5.

6 the individual sections of the protector. hese sections arearranged in circumferential series and are articulated for flexibility by means of the linlrs 7. Each section 6 is composed of some suitable mate tened from normal curvature the sections are enabled to bring their meeting ends together and full close the spaces between them, as indicate in Fig. 3, whence it follows that as the danger exposed area of the tire to be protected is that which contacts With the ground, the sections, by closing together at that time and alon that line of pressure, present fully closed joints where needed and still are flexibly articulated and may resume Letter Patent Patented J unc 29, Milo".

1913. Serial No. 755,306.

the curvature of the series when not resting on the ground. Each section is formed with a flange S on each side in which flanges the articulating links 7 are seated. The outer face or tread of each section 6 may be of 1 suitable character, preferably ribbed U r roughened. The trca d here shown is deemed the best. It consists of two cross ribs 9 and l0, and a central circumferential connecting rib 11, on each section. The cross rib 9 lies 1n or about the transverse middle of the section, while the rib 10 is at the end of the section and projects beyond said end sullicicntly to symmetrically and slidingly overlap the end of an adjacent section, so that the spaces between the sections whether open or shut are always covered and while the sections adapted to more relatively upon their filt. lations, a continuous tread surface is, 5$, presented by the overlapping dging ribs 10.

al armor is fitted and held in points around :erence of said rim are securely 'ed tn nooks 1:2 in proper ma l-- nor, as, for example, by bolts or by the screws 13, as here indicated. Engaging these hooks are links l lwhich carry other links 15. The free ends of these last named links 15 fit in the bifurcated end 160i the hangers 17 and are held therein by the bolts 18. The hangers 17 are best curved outward, as seen in Fig. 2, to better avoid the tire. The other ends of the hangers engage and are secured to the armor sections 6 tlnough the flanges 8 of said sections, said. hanger ends receiving nuts 19. These connections, it will be seen, hold the armor to the tire, but are essentially and sufficiently yielding to present no interference with the articulations ot the armor, nor to interfere in any way with the resiliency of the tire.

To fit the protector to the tire, the latter is deflated. in whole or in part; the armor is then placed around the tire, and the links 14: are fitted upon the hooks 12. Thereupon the tire is inflated. Necessary adjustments are possible at the several connections. To remove the armor, any one of the articulating links 7 may be removed, for example, by cutting it, whereupon the whole protector may be taken off.

I claim l. A tire protector for vehicle Wheels comprising a series of plates which embrace the 2. A tire protector for vehicle wheels comtread of the tire, said plates having their adjacent edges formed to leave spaces between thei which widen outwardly between those plates not resting on the ground and which close between those plates which rest upon the ground and said plates being form-ed at each side of the tire with extensions which project beyond the sides of thetire, a curved arm adjustably connected to each of said extensions and embracing the sides of the tire said arms extending to a point adjacent the wheel telly, and a flexible connection between said arms and the telly;

I said link and the wheel felly.

3. A tire protector for vehicle wheels'comprising plates which embrace the tread of the tire, said plates having their adjacent edges formed to leave spaces between them which widen outwardly between those plates.

not resting on the ground and which close between those plates which rest upon the ground and said plates being formed with extensions which project beyond the sides of the tire, arms having an adjustable connection with said extensions, said arms being curved to embrace the sides of the tire, a link pivotally supported on the lower ter minal of each arm, a second link having a sliding connection with the first mentioned lfink and a pivotal connection with the wheel elly.

4. A tire protector for vehicle wheels comprising a series of plates which embrace the tread of the tire, said plates having their ad jacent edges formed to leave spaces between them which widen outwardly between those plates not resting on the ground and which prising a series of plates which embrace the tread of the tire, said plates having their adjacent edges formed to leave spaces between them which widen outwardly between those plates not resting on the ground and which close between those plates which rest upon the ground, said plates being formed at each side with extensions which project beyond the sides of the tire; links fitted to adjacent extensions hingedly connecting the plates in an articulated series; curved arms ad ustably connected to said extensions and embracing the sides of the tire; and a flexible connection between said arms and the wheel felly.

6. A tire protector for vehicle wheels comprising a series ,of plates which embrace the tread of the tire, said plates having their adjacent edges formed to leave spaces between them which widen outwardly between those plates not resting on the ground and which close between those plates which rest upon the ground, said plates having on their outer faces cross ribs which slidingly bridge and cover the spaces-between them, and said plates being formed -at each side with extensions which project beyond the sides of the tire; links fitted to adjacent extensions hingedly connecting the plates in an articulated series; curved arms adjustably connected to said extensions and embracing the sides of the tire; and a flexible connection between said arms and the wheel felly.

In testimony whereof I- have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

. WILLIAM B. THOMPSON.

Witnesses:

WM. -F. Boo'rn, D. B. RICHARDS. 

